Dodgers knock Cardinals around in victory

Yasiel Puig scores past St. Louis catcher Tony Cruz on a two-run single by Skip Schumaker during the Dodgers' six-run second inning. JEFF ROBERSON, AP

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The Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez, right, and Yasiel Puig celebrate after both scored on a single by Skip Schumaker during the Dodgers' six-run second inning against the Cardinals on Wednesday. JEFF ROBERSON, AP

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Dee Gordon, right, is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring on single by Jerry Hairston Jr. during the second inning Wednesday. JEFF ROBERSON, AP

Dodgers starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco throws during the first inning against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Wednesday. JEFF ROBERSON, AP

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Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller slumps after being struck by a ball hit by the Dodgers' Carl Crawford during the first inning Wednesday. Miller was forced to leave after throwing just two pitches. JEFF ROBERSON, AP

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St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller grimaces after being struck by a ball hit back to the mound by the Dodgers' Carl Crawford during the first inning. The pitch was the second of the game and Miller was forced to leave the contest. JEFF ROBERSON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Cardinals starting pitcher Shelby Miller is checked on by trainer Chris Conroy after being struck by a ball hit by the Dodgers' Carl Crawford during the first inning Wednesday. Miller was forced to leave after throwing just two pitches. JEFF ROBERSON, AP

The Dodgers knocked starting pitcher Shelby Miller from the game after just two pitches and went on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 13-4, Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.

Dodgers leadoff man Carl Crawford lined the second pitch of the game back off Miller's right elbow. The ball caromed into shallow left field for a double and the rookie right-hander left the game immediately.

"I honestly thought he broke his arm," Dodgers second baseman Skip Schumaker said. "I've never seen a ball hit that flush on the elbow."

Miller said his arm went numb. But X-rays were negative and Miller was able to call it "a scary situation" that worked out "better than I thought it would." The official diagnosis is a contusion.

"I thought it hit off his back until they said it was his elbow," Crawford said. "It's not like you're happy about seeing a guy get hit like that. You just gotta get ready for the bullpen."

Michael Blazek came out of the bullpen to complete the inning. But in the second inning, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny (who used six pitchers in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers) chose to bring in right-hander Jake Westbrook who was scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Dodgers.

That decision proved disastrous and will have consequences Thursday as well. The Dodgers ripped Westbrook for nine runs on 13 hits over the next 4 2/3 innings, stretching the bullpen and leaving the Cardinals in need of an emergency starter for the series finale. Right-hander Carlos Martinez will be promoted from Triple-A.

"Sometimes it's a little scary," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of going from facing a starter they had scouted and prepared for to a potential parade of less familiar relievers. "You get guys out of the bullpen with good arms and you're in a little frenzy (for scouting reports). They brought Westbrook in who guys know a little bit. We were able to scratch and get that big inning there."

The Dodgers scored six runs in the second inning off Westbrook with Jerry Hairston Jr. and Schumaker driving in two runs each with a single and Adrian Gonzalez one.

"You never want to see a guy like Shelby Miller get hurt," Schumaker said of the NL Rookie of the Year candidate. "He's got an unbelievable future in this league.

"When it does happen, you have to figure out what to do. We didn't know if they had a long guy or if Jake Westbrook was going to come in and man up and he really manned up for them."

The Dodgers finished with 18 hits and went nine for 20 with runners in scoring position. Fifteen of the hits were singles, but Andre Ethier had a triple and double (driving in three runs) among his three hits. Crawford had a double (the shot off Miller's elbow) and three singles. Tim Federowicz had a three-hit game as well and Yasiel Puig was on base four times (an infield single and three walks).

"It's just good to get contributions from everybody – team ball," Crawford said. "Puig can't do everything. Hanley (Ramirez) is out. Matt (Kemp) is out. That's the way it's gotta be."

Nolasco went just five innings, allowing three runs in the fifth inning when his own throwing error proved costly. Chris Withrow, Paco Rodriguez and Carlos Marmol combined for the final four innings.

The win was the Dodgers' 16th in 19 games since the All-Star break and assures them at least a split of the four-game series in St. Louis. They have not lost a series since losing two out of three in Pittsburgh June 14-16, a stretch of 14 series now.

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